Burial unit handling device



W. W. HAASE BURIAL UNIT HANDLING-DEVICE.

Nov. 25, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 7, 1947 I N VEN TOR. Zfllbert Mfiaaae ma and M fifi'arizez s Nov. 25, 1952 w. w. HAASE 2,619,321

BURIAL UNIT HANDLING DEVICE Filed Feb. 7, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet a 58 Mlberz'ffiaase magma M NOV. 25, 1952 w, w, HAAsE 2,619,321

BURIAL UNIT HANDLING DEVIQE Filed Feb. 7, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Nov. 25, 1952 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE Wilbert Manufacturers Association,

Forest Park, 111., a. corporation of Illinois Application February 7, 1947, Serial No. 727,115

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a burial unit handling device for use in lowering burial vaults, and the like, into a grave opening.

The present invention, in one of its phases, is an improvement over the device disclosed in my earlier Patent No. 2,285,923 dated June 9, 1942 on a Winch Drag Mechanism.

An object of the present invention is to provide a winch drag mechanism, for use in a burial unit handling device, which is an improvement upon the winch drag mechanism disclosed in my aforesaid earlier Patent No. 2,285,923.

An additional object of th invention is to provide a burial unit handling device which may be arranged at a grave opening for lowering a burial unit, such as a burial vault, or the like, into a grave opening and which burial unit handling device may be readily controlled by a single operator.

A further object of the invention is to construct and arrange the new burial vault handling device in such a manner that it embodies two manually or power operable winch drag units each of which is adapted to be arranged at one end of a grave opening, two idler pedestal units each adapted to be arranged at one end of a grave opening, and an inter-connecting shaft between each winch drag unit and each adjacent idler unit for supporting a spool onto and off which a flexible element in the form of a flexible belt or cable is windable for the purpose of lowering a burial unit such, for example, as a burial vault, or the like, into a grave opening.

Another object of the invention is to provide a winch embodying a winch drag or brake mechanism which is an improvement upon the winch drag or brake device shown in my aforesaid earlier Patent No. 2,285,923 and which will permit relatively free movement of the Winch, and the lowering apparatus controlled thereby, when desired, and under normal operation, but which will arrest or retard lowering movement of the winch and of the lowering apparatus controlled thereby in the event of an emergency such as might occur if the operating crank handle should slip from the handle-receiving stem of the winch on which the crank handle is being employed during the burial vault lowering operation.

An additional object of the invention is to provid in each of the new winch units a novel manually controlled clutch or coupling device for controlling the operation of the brake or drag mechanism which is embodied in each of the new winch units.

A further object of the invention is to construct each of the idler pedestal units embodied in the new burial unit handling device in such a manner that neither of the sam embodies any gears or gearing mechanism and to that end that said idler units operate freely and quietly in use when supporting one end portion of one of the transverse load-bearing and spool-bearing shafts which are embodied in the new burial unit handling device.

An additional object of the invention is to construct the new burial unit handling device in such a manner that the power-transmitting interconnection between the two selectively operable winch units and the interconnections between each winch unit and th adjacent and corresponding idler unit are effected by telescopically interconnected tubular members providing shafts and without the use of or need for gears or gearing mechanisms, thereby simplifying the construction of the new burial unit handling device and minimizing the number of working parts embodied therein.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel means for detachably attaching the end portions of the flexible steel cables to the cable spools.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and claim and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings which, by way of illustration, show a preferred embodiment of the invention and the principles thereof and what I now consider to be the best mode in which I have contemplated applying those principles. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same or equivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and th purview of the appended claim.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a burial unit handling device embodying a preferred form of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a view on line 2-2 in Fig. 1, partly in section and partly in elevation, and showing the two manually or power operable winch units which are embodied in the invention and the power-transmitting interconnecting shaft therebetween;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on line 33 in Fig. 2 illustrating the construction of the power-transmitting interconnecting shaftbetween the two manually or power operable winch units;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional detail view on line 4- 1 in Fig. 1 illustrating the construction of one of the two idler pedestal units which are embodied in the new burial unit handling device;

Fig. 5 is an end elevational view of one of the two manually or power operable winch units which are embodied in the new burial unit handling device as seen from the inner end of the said winch unit;

Fig. 6 is a view on line 6-3 in Fig. 5, partly in section and partly in elevation, illustrating the construction of one of the new winch units;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional top plan view, on line 'l! in Fig. 6, illustrating the construction of one of the two manually or power operable winch units which are embodied in the present invention and the construction of the winch drag or brake mechanism and the clutch device associated therewith;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional plan View on line 8--8 in Fig. 5, illustrating th construction of certain of the parts embodied in each of the new winch units;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view on line 99 in Fig. '7 illustrating the construction of the winch drag or brake mechanism and associated clutch or coupling device embodied in each of the two manually or power operable winch units which are embodied in the new burial unit handling device;

Fig. 10 is a central longitudinal sectional view illustrating the construction of the winch drag or brake mechanism and associated clutch device embodied in each of the new winch units;

Fig. 11 is an elevational view showing the construction of one of the cable spools embodied in the new burial unit handling device;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary detail view illustrating the manner in and the means by which the end portions of the flexible cables are detachably attached to the cable spools;

Fig. 13 is a side elevational view illustrating one of the attaching lugs one of which is attached to each end portion of each of the flexible cables for detachably attaching the flexible cables to the cable spools, only a part of the end portion of one Of the cables being shown;

Fig. 14 is a front end elevational View of the cable attaching lug shown in Figs. 12 and 13 showing an end portion of one of the cables attached thereto; and

Fig. 15 is a top plan view of the cable-attaching lug shown in Figs. 12, 13 and 14.

A preferred and typical embodiment of the new burial unit handling device is shown in the drawings, wherein it is generally indicated at [5, and comprises two manually or power operable winch units, each generally indicated at I3, two idler units each generally indicated at IT, an interconnecting power-transmitting unit 18 between the two manually or power operable winch units I 6, and. a, rotatable load-bearing and spool-supporting shaft l9 between each of the manually or power operable winch units 13 and the adjacent and corresponding idler unit [1. As shown in Fig. 1 the two manually or power operable winch units 16 are adapted to be arranged or mounted on a suitable support such, for example, as a plank 20 arranged at one side of a grave opening (not shown) and the two idler units H are adapted to be mounted upon a suitable support such, for example, as a plank 2! arranged at the opposite side of the said grave opening. Thus this arrangement is such that one of each of the four units l6 and I1 is arranged at each of the four corners of the grave opening.

As shown in Fig. 1 each of the interconnecting and transversely extending load-bearing shaft units [9 has a pair of spaced spools 22 thereon and these spools 22 are adapted to have flexible load-bearing elements in the form of flexible steel cables 23 of a suitable diameter, such as A, windable thereon and therefrom so as to support a burial unit generally indicated at 24 and which may be a concrete burial vault, or the like, during the operation of lowering the said burial vault or the like into a grave opening.

The means by and the manner in which the end portions of the flexible steel cables 23 are detachably attached to the cable spools 22 are illustrated in Figs. 11 to 15, inclusive, of the drawings. To this end each of the cable spools 22 includes a generally cylindrical body portion 90 which has an annular retaining flange 9| thereon at each end thereof. The substantially cylindrical body portion 99 of each cable spool 22 has a lug-receiving slot or opening 92 formed therein (Fig. 11). Each of these slots or openings 92 has a relatively large and generally circular body portion 93 and a relatively narrow or restricted throat portion 94 (Fig. 11). Each end I portion of each of the flexible steel cables 23 has a steel cable-attaching lug mounted thereon in any suitable manner. To this end each of the cable-attaching lugs 95 has a generally rectangular-shaped anchor block portion 93 which is provided with a substantially cylindrical recess 9'! in which an end portion of one Of the flexible steel cables 23 is anchored in any suitable manner, as by welding or the like. Each of the cable-attaching lugs 95 also has a generally disc-shaped body portion 99 which is formed integral with the anchor block portion 96 and this disc-shaped body portion 99 has a pair of inclined ledges or ledge portions 98 formed integrally therewith, one at each side of the central anchor block portion 95. As shown in Figs. 13, 14 and 15 of the drawings, the inclined ledges 98 lie within the periphery of the disc-shaped portion 99 of the attaching lug 35 and at opposite sides of the central anchor block portion 96 of the corresponding attaching lug 95.

Each of the manually or power operable winch units [6 comprises a supporting pedestal 25 which includes a portion providing a pedestal casing 23 to which a cover plate 21 is detachably attached by means of suitable fastening elements such as bolts 28 (Figs. 5 and 6). Each of the pedestal casings 23 includes a pair of spaced vertically extending end walls 29 and 30 (Fig. '7). The end wall 29 has an inwardly extending bearing boss 3| formed integral therewith on the inner side thereof and the wall 30 has an inwardly extending bearing boss 32 formed thereon on the inner side thereof (Fig. 7). A horizontally extending bearing opening 33 is provided in the bearing boss 3| and a bearing bushing 34 is arranged in this opening 33. The bearing opening 33 has an enlarged inner end portion 35 in which an anti-friction bearing unit or assembly 36 is arranged. Similarly, the bearing boss 32 has a horizontally extending bearing pening 31 formed therein and a bearing bushing 38 is arranged in this opening 31. The bearing opening 31 has an enlarged inner end portion 39 in which an anti-friction bearing unit or assembly 4!] is mounted (Fig. 7). I

As shown in Fig. '7, a manually or power operable winch shaft 4! extends horizontally through the upper portion of the pedestal casing 26 of each of the winch units 16, these winch shafts H being journaled in the bushings 35 and 38 and in the anti-friction bearing units or assemblies 35 and 40. Each of the shafts 4| has a power applying end portion or stem 42 which projects outwardly of the end wall 29 of the correspondin pedestal casing 25 and to which a crank handle may be applied when the new burial unit handling device is intended to be manually operated and to which a power take-off or delivery mechanism of a suitable portable electrically operated power unit may be applied when the new burial unit handling device and the Winch units It embodied therein are intended for power operation.

A worm 43 is mounted on each of the shafts l l, between a pair of spacing collars 45 arranged thereon, and each of these worms 33 meshes with a worm gear 65 which is mounted on a horizontally and transversely extending shaft 46 (Figs. 6 and 8). As shown in Fig. 8, each of the worm gears 45 has a hub portion ll in which a key 48 is adjustably mounted for the purpose of keying the worm gear 45 on its supporting shaft 45. Each of the shafts 56 is journaled in a pair of antifriction bearing units or assemblies 29 and 55. The anti-friction bearing unit or assembly 49 is mounted in a recess 5| provided in a boss 52 which is formed on the inner side of the wall of the pedestal casing 26 and the anti-friction bearing unit or assembly 50 is mounted in an opening 53 formed in the wall or cover plate 21 of each of the winch units I5. The anti-friction bearing unit or assembly 50 is retained in position in the opening 53 by means of a retaining plate or hub cap 54 which is detachably mounted on the wall or cover plate Zl by means of suitable fastening elements such as the screws 55. As shown in Fig. 8, each of the shafts 55 projects through an opening 55 in one of the retaining plates or hub caps 54 and each shaft 56 has a squared outer and attaching end portion 57, the purpose of which will be explained hereinafter.

Each of the manually or power operable shafts ll has a reduced axially inner end portion 58 (Figs. 7 and 9) and a hollow tubular sleeve 59, which is substantially square in cross section (Fig. 9), is mounted upon the reduced inner end portion 58 of each of the shafts il and is fastened thereto as by means of a pin 65 (Figs. 1 and '7). The reduced inner end portion 58 of each of the said shafts M and the tubular sleeve 55 thereon are also keyed together by means of a slot 6! provided in the peripheral surface of the reduced inner end portion 58 of each shaft M and a correspondingly shaped key 52 which is attached, as by welding, to the inner surface of each of the tubular sleeves 59 and each of which keys 52 is adapted to be received in one of the slots 5!.

As shown in Fig. 2, one of the stop pins 55 abuts the end wall of a tubular member 65, the outer end portion of which is telescopically inserted over the outer end portion of one of the tubular members 59. The other pin 59 abuts the outer end of a tubular member 59. As shown in Fig. 2 the outer end portion of the tubular member 59 projects over the outer end portion of one of the tubular members 59 (left hand side, Fig. 2) and the smaller tubular member 55 is telescopically projected into the larger tubular member 55.

Both of these members are, as shown in Fig. 3, substantially square in cross section. A pin 66 is mounted in the tubular member 65 and one end portion of an expansion coil spring 61 is anchored to the pin 66. As shown in Fig. 2, this coil spring 6'! projects through the smaller tubular member 65 and into the larger tubular member 69 and its other end portion is anchored to a pin 58 which is mounted in the larger tubular member 59.

Each of the winch units [6 includes a winch drag or brake mechanism, generally indicated at 16. Each of the winch drag or brake mechanisms 10 includes a substantially cylindrical brake drum or housing H and each of the brake drums or housings H includes an annular end wall 72 which is rigidly attached, as by suitable fastening elements 13, to the end wall 30 of the housing 28 of the corresponding Winch unit It (Fig. 7). A flexible friction element 14, which may be a strip of flexible automotive vehicle brake lining of suitable strength and friction characteristics, is arranged within and is engageable with the inner surface of the substantially annular wall of the brake drum TI. The friction element 14 is attached by rivets 16 to the outer surface of a pressure band 15 of spring steel which is of somewhat larger diameter than the brake drum H so that it will tend to expand within the brake drum fl and thus urge the friction element 14 into frictional engagement with the inner peripheral surface of the brake drum H. The pressure band '15 has a radially extending portion or arm Tl formed therein adjacent one end thereof. This radially extending portion 1'! of the pressure band 15 is selectively engageable in any one of a, plurality of generally V-shaped slots or recesses 13 which are formed in the body 15 of a manually operable clutch member one of which is slidably mounted on each of the substantially square (in cross section) tubular sleeves 59 which are mounted on the reduced end portions 58 of the shafts 4| (Figs. 2 and '7). As shown in Fig. 7, each of the slidable clutch members has a substantially annular flange 8| formed thereon at its outer end and this substantially annular flange BI is adapted to engage the substantially annular wall of the brake drum 'i'l when the said clutch member BI is disposed in its inwardly extended and effective, or clutching, position, as in full lines, Fig. 7.

Each of the transverse interconnecting loadbearing and spool-bearing shafts 19 includes a central tubular shaft section 83 and two larger and outer tubular shaft sections 84 and 85 telescopically mounted thereon, as generally shown in Fig. 1.

The shape and construction of the pedestal casing or housin of each of the idler units I1, and the construction of certain of the working parts therein, are, in general, similar to the shape and construction of the pedestal casing or housing 26 and certain of the working parts embodied in each of the winch units It. Hence, those parts in each of the idler units I! which are similar to corresponding parts embodied in each of the winch units 16 have been given similar reference numerals followed by the additional and distingushing reference character a.

Thus, as shown in Fig. 4, each of the idler units ll embodies a pedestal casing 25a which is, in general, similar in shape and construction to the pedestal casing 26 which is embodied in each of the manually or power operable winch units l6. An idlershaft 53 is rotatably mounted in anti-- friction bearing units or assemblies 49a and 50a which are mounted in the housing 28a, as shown in Fig. 4. As is also shown in Fig. 4, the two antifriction bearing units or assemblies 49a and 59a are held in position in a bearing opening 53a in the inner wall or cover plate 21a and in a bearing recess |a in the body of the pedestal casing 26a, respectively, by means of a spacing collar 86 which is mounted on each of the idler shafts 63 between the said anti-friction bearin units or assemblies 49a and 5011. Each of the said spacing collars 85 is keyed to the corresponding idler shaft 63 by means of a set screw 8'1 adjustably mounted in a threaded opening 88 formed in each of the said spacing collars 88 (Fig. 4).

Each of the idler shafts 63 has a squared inner end portion 51a on which the outer end portion of one of the tubular shaft sections 84 is adapted to be removably mounted. The outer end portion of each of the other tubular shaft sections 85 is adapted to be removably mounted on the squared inner end portion 51 of one of the shafts 4G in one of the manually or power operable winch units IS.

The use and operation of the new burial unit handling device are as follows: The two manually or power operable winch units H5 and the two idler units I! may be arranged upon suitable supports, such as the planks 20 and 2|, respectively, and in a rectangular pattern at the corners of a grave opening (not shown). During this operation of assembling the winch units l6 and the idler units H, the two tubular members 65 and 69 which are embodied in the interconnecting shaft unit l9 are telescopically interconnected with each other and are manually held in telescoping relationship with the expansion coil spring 61 somewhat compressed. The outer end portions of the tubular members 65 and 69 are then inserted over the outer end portions of the tubular members 59 and released, thereby allowing the coil spring 61 to expand and thus force the two tubular members 95 and 99 apart until their end walls abut the stop pins 60. The tubular member 59 and the reduced end portion 58 of the shaft 4| in one of the two winch units l6 (right hand winch unit l6 as seen in Fig. 2) may be made somewhat smaller in diameter than the tubular member 59 and the reduced end portion 58 of the shaft 4| of the other (left hand, Fig. 2) winch unit l6 so as to enable the outer end portions of the two telescopically interconnected tubular members 65 and 69 in the powertransmitting shaft unit I8, and which differ in diameter, to be fitted thereon and the assembly of the interconnecting and power-transmitting shaft unit If! thus completed so as to operatively interconnect the two manually or power-operable winch units |-6.

During the operation of assembling the two winch units l6 and the two idler units I! in the generally rectangular pattern in which they are shown in Fig. 1, the outer end portion of each of the squared tubular shaft sections 84 is mounted on the squared inner end portion 51a of one of the shafts 46a in one of the idler units I! and the squared outer end portion of each of the other tubular shaft sections 85 is mounted on the squared inner end portion 51 of the worm gear shaft 46 in one of the winch units IS. The inner end portions of the tubular shaft sections 84 and 85 are telescopically inserted over and engaged with the outer end portions of one of the intermediate or central and smaller shaft sections 83, as shown in Fig. 1. In this manner the assembly of the spool-supporting and load-bearing shaft units l9 and the interconnection provided thereby between the manually or power operable winch units l6 and the idler units I! is effected.

The flexible cables 23 are detachably attached to the cable spools 22 by inserting the cable-attaching lugs 95 into the lug-receivin slots or recesses 92 in the body portions of the cable spools 22. To this end the generally disc-shaped body portion 99 of each of the cable-attaching lugs is inserted through the relatively large and generally circular portion 93 of one of the lug-receiving slots or openings 92, with the anchor block portion 96 of the attaching lug disposed downwardly. The attaching lug 95 is then drawn forwardly so as to move the generally rectangular-shaped anchor block portion 96 of the lug into the relatively narrow throat portion 94 of the slots or openings 92. During this operation the inclined ledges 98 ride under those portions of the body 90 of the cable spool 22 which define the marginal edges of the relatively narrow throat 94 of the slot or opening 92, as shown in Fig. 12, and thus secure the attaching lugs 95 and the end portions of the flexible cables 23 in assembled but readily detachable relationship with the generally cylindrical body portions 90 of the cable spools 22. It will be noted, in this connection, that as the attaching lug 95 is drawn forwardly into the relatively narrow or restricted throat portion 94 of the correspondin slot or opening 92 the taper of the ledges 98 is upwardly. considered from front to rear, and thus the ledges 98 cooperate with those portions of the body portion 99 of the cable spool 23 to wedge the attaching lug 95 in the relatively narrow and restricted throat portion 94 of the corresponding slot or opening 92.

In lowering a burial unit such, for example, as a burial vault, indicated at 24 (Fig. 1), into a grave opening (not shown) the manually operable clutch members or coupling members 8|l8| may be moved into effective position (from dotted to full line position, Fig. 7) so as to couple or clutch the reduced end portions 58 of the shafts 4| and the tubular members 59 thereon to the pressure bands 15 and friction elements 14, as will be explained presently. A burial unit 24 may be laid upon the flexible elements or cables 23 which are windable onto one pair of spools 22 and off the other pair of spools 22 in a manner well understood in the art.

A manually operable crank handle or the power take-off connection of a portable electrically operated power operating unit (not shown) may be operatively connected to the end portion 42 of the power or operating shaft 4| of either one of the two winch units l6 so as to rotate the said shaft 4|. Rotation thus imparted to the shaft 4| of a selected one of the two winch units l6 acts through the worm 43 thereon to rotate the corresponding worm gear 45 and its supporting shaft 46 which, in turn, act through the squared shaft end portion 51 and the corresponding telescopically interconnected shaft sections 85, B3 and 84 in one of the interconnecting load-bearing and spool-supporting shaft units L9 to rotate the said interconnecting shaft unit l9 and the belt spools 22 thereon. At the same time manual or other power thus imparted to the outer end portion 42 of the drive shaft 4| of a selected one of the winch units l6 acts through the reduced end portion 58 of the said drive shaft 4|, the key and slot connection 62-6I and the telescopically interconnected tubular members 59, 69, 65 and 59 of the power-transmitting interconnecting shaft unit I 8 to transmit power to the reduced end portion 58 of the shaft 4! of the other winch unit it which is thereupon rotated in a direction counter or opposite to the direction of rotation of the selected winch unit to which manual or other power is applied. The rotation thus imparted to the second winch unit it is thereupon imparted from the shaft 4! thereof through the worm 43 thereon, through the corresponding worm gear 45 and its supporting shaft 46 and the squared end portion 5'! of the latter to the tubular shaft sections 85, 83 and 8d 'of the other or second interconnecting shaft unit [9 and the belt spools 22 thereon. During this operation the two interconnecting shaft units l9 and the cable spools 22 thereon are rotated in opposite directions so that one pair of the cable spools 22 act as feed spools and the other pair of cable spools 22 act as takeup spools. Likewise during this operation the shafts it of the two winch units It rotate in the anti-friction bearing units or assemblies 39 (Fig. 8) and the idler shafts 63 in the two idler units ll rotate in the anti-friction bearings units or assemblies 49a and 46a (Fig. 4).

When the manually operable clutch members or coupling devices 80 are slid inwardly on the tubular sleeve members 59 (Fig. '7) the substantially annular flange 8| of each of the clutch members 80 abuts the substantially annular wall of the corresponding brake drum 1 l This movement of the clutch member or coupling device Bil engages the radially extending arm ll of the flexible pressure band 15 in one of the generally V-shaped slots or recesses 78 in the hub portion '19 of the selected and operated clutch member 80. In this manner a clutching engagement is effected between the selected manually operable clutch member 80 and the corresponding interconnected pressure band 15 and friction element i4 and the said pressure band i5 and friction element M will thereupon be rotated with the reduced end portion 58 of the corresponding drive shaft H and the tubular sleeve 58 thereon (clockwise, Fig. 9).

Counterclockwise rotation of the reduced end portion 58 of the drive shaft 4! and the tubular sleeve member 59 thereon, as seen in Fig. 9, when thus coupled by the clutch member 80, to the pressure band '75 and friction element Hi, tends to unwrap the flexible pressure band 75 and friction element Hi relative to the hub 19 of the slidable clutch member 88 and thus expand the said pressure band E5 and friction element 14 and consequently urge the said friction element it into frictional and braking engagement with the inner peripheral surface of the annular brake drum M. This braking action continues progressively until the coefficient of friction of the unit is exceeded after which slippage may occur.

Clockwise movement of the winch drag or braking unit Iii, shown in Fig. 9, and as seen therein, when coupled to the corresponding tubular member 59 and shaft 58-4l, through the coupling or clutch member 80, tends to wrap the pressure band 15 and the friction element iii attached thereto about the hub 19 of the coupling or clutch member as, and thus reduce the diameter of the flexible pressure band i5 and flexible friction element M. This action will continue until frictional engagement of the friction element 1 with the inner peripheral surface of the brake drum ll is broken or reduced to a negligible factor, after which relatively free rotation of the parts will occur, as may be desirable under certain conditions as, for example, when the new 10 burial unit handling device is being used to raise a burial vault or other burial unit in a grave opening.

It is desirable to proportion and construct the braking or winch drag units iii so that in the event of breakage or slippage of the crank handle attached to the stem 42 of the operating shaft ll of the selected winch unit It, or other similar contingency, when the new burial unit handling device It is heavily loaded, the braking or winch drag devices 16 will lock the winch units l6 against lowering movement in response to the load applied thereto While permitting normal lowering movement in response to rotation of the operating shaft ii of the selected winch unit It by means of a crank handle or otherwise.

The new burial unit handling device is so constructed and arranged, and the gear ratios therein are so proportioned, that it may be readily manipulated and controlled by a Single operator.

It will thus be seen from the foregoing description, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, that the present invention provides a new and improved and relatively simple burial unit handling device, and a novel winch unit embodied therein, and thus has the desirable advantages and characteristics, and accomplishes its intended objects, including those hereinbefore pointed out and others which are inherent in the invention.

Tclaim:

A burial unit handling device comprising a pair of spaced selectively operated winch units adapted to be arranged at oppositely disposed corners on one long side of a grave opening, a pair of idler units adapted to be arranged at opposite corners to the winch units on the other long side, each Winch unit having a drive shaft thereon and a driven shaft in alignment with the driving shaft extending beyond each winch unit toward and in alignment with each other, a second driven shaft extending outwardly from a side of each winch unit, and at right angles to the drive shaft, toward each oppositely disposed idler unit, each idler unit having a shaft rotatablt mounted therein and extending outwardly therefrom toward and in alignment with the second driven shaft of the respective winch unit, a rotatable power-transmitting shaft operatively connecting the driven shafts of the winch units and disposed on the one long side of the grave opening, the transmitting shaft comprising a plurality of telescopically adjustable and interconnected tubular members, a resilient expansible member mounted within the interconnected tubular members and normally urging the telescoping members apart and toward the driven shafts of the winch units, each driven shaft of the winch units having a stop pin mounted therein and extending beyond the sides of the driven shafts, the stop pins engaging the free ends of the telescoping members and limiting the expanding movement of the resilient member, a pair of load-bearing shafts extending between each second drive shaft of each winch unit and each rotatable shaft of each idler unit and connecting the respective shafts, each load-bearing shaft including a plurality of telescoping members, a pair of spaced spools on each load-bearing shaft, a flexible load-bearing member connected between each similarly disposed spool on each of the load-bearing shafts, whereby when power is applied to one of the winch units the second drive shaft of that unit will drive the spools on the load-bearing shaft directly connected to that winch unit and by the power transmittin shaft will drive the other winch unit and its interconnected load bearing shaft in the opposite direction so that the flexible load-bearing members will be wound. on one spool and removed from the similarly disposed spool and when the power is applied to the other winch unit the direction of travel of the flexible load-bearing members will be reversed.

WILBERT W. HAASE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Number Number 12 UNI-TED STATES PATENTS Name Date Lanzuis June 19, 1923 Phillips June 13, 1933 Smola May 17, 1938 Haase June 20, 1939 Haase June 20, 1939 Hagen Mar. 12, 1940 Eshleman July 15, 1941 Haase June 9, 1942 Smith Aug. 21, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain June 10, 1924 

